On
the other hand, some of the variations are significant, even now.
The first patent may have been for a design that was difficult to
machine;
or awkward to use; or quickly wore out. The second patent
introduced
a new way that not only got by the first patent, but also produced a
better
article of commerce. Never mind that the mechanism's basic
operation
was the same. My best guess is that there were so many unpatented
mechanisms in common use (in the public domain) that if the concept was
unpatentable, the execution was. Witness the little
roller that keeps the bevel gears of a No.2 Millers Falls eggbeater
drill in near-perfect mesh on the pitch lines of the mating
gears.
No one ever found a better way; yet the only patent which illustrates
this
mechanism (that I have been able to find) uses an instantly
recognizable
rendition of that model as an example of the quintessential geared bit
driver: George L. Wilcox, "Locking Device for Hand Drills" US Patent
No.
1,083,784, January 6, 1914 - "It is understood that the hand drill so
far
described is of the standard type of drill now generally in use." Mr.
Wilcox's
witnesses were Theo. G. Hoster and Philip D. Rollhaus.
Sometimes it's difficult to imagine the circumstances
under
which such tools as these were used. The image, Uncle Mark,
gives a hint.
Some of the firms making braces had complex
histories.
I have tried to tie some of them together by examining the patent
papers, using the working assumption that the attorneys who handled the
patent applications must have avoided conflicts of interest by working
for only one firm at a time in a given field. Thomas Earle, Attorney, [see Note 2] and Wilhelm & Bonner, Attorneys, [see
Note 1] were two such commonalities.
Note:
Until this study is published, you can link to the brace images by
copying
the file name of a brace (in the column at left in the table below) and
then pasting it onto the end of this URL: http://www.georgesbasement.com/braces/
Patentee;
chuck first, then ratchet or mfg., etc. |
Manufacturer | US Patents |
Amidon661.JPG | Amidon, probably [see
Note 2] |
Chuck: Amidon, 226,646, April 20, 1886; Pad: |
DavisFribora690.JPG | Fribora, D.R.P. | Chuck: Davis, 432,180, July 15, 1890. |
IvesPfleghar616.JPG | Ives, William A. [see Note 1] | Chuck: Ives, 301,058, June 24, 1884; Ratchet: Pfleghar, 175,151, March 21, 1876. |
IvesPfleghar622.JPG | Ives, probably [see Note 1] | Chuck: Ives, 195,373, September 18, 1877; Ratchet: Pfleghar, 175,151, March 21, 1876. |
OsgoodOsgood628.JPG | Saxton & Osgood, [see
Note 2] Buffalo, NY, 1886-87 |
Chuck: Osgood, 361,368, April 19, 1887; Ratchet: Osgood, 344,130, June 22, 1886 |
OsgoodOsgood635.JPG (a better example than above) |
Saxton & Osgood, [see
Note 2] Buffalo, NY, 1886-87 |
Chuck: Osgood, 361,368, April 19, 1887; Ratchet: Osgood, 344,130, June 22, 1886 |
PeckPexto673.JPG | Peck, Stowe & Wilcox | Chuck: O. Peck, 246,904, September 13, 1881. |
StreeterShepardson655.JPG | Shepardson &
Co. Shelbourne Falls, Mass. |
Chuck: Streeter, 61,113, January 8, 1867. |
Taylor-I-679.JPG (octagonal bar frame) |
Unknown | Chuck: Taylor |
TaylorWilson683.JPG | Wilson Mfg. Co. New London, Conn. |
Chuck: Taylor |
Unknown666.JPG | Maybe Chantrell | Chuck: Chantrell, 284,275, September 4, 1883 or 328,628, October 20, 1885; Ratchet, either 286,683; or 302,320; or 328,649 or another, as the selector does not match any of his ratchet patents, but the frame shape does. I have three examples, all different. |
WilcoxWilcox669.JPG | American Bit Brace
Co., Buffalo, NY [see Note 2] |
Chuck & Ratchet: Wilcox, 428,984, May 27, 1890; See also: Amidon & Zirikelback chuck patents & Parker ratchet patent 384,865. |
WPeck814318-320.JPG | Fulton (a trademark used by the Stanley Rule & Level Co.) | Chuck: W. Peck, 814,320; Pad bearing: W. Peck 814,318. Stanley owned these patents and 814,319 as well. |
WPeckPhoenixNotFulton.JPG | Phoenix Hdw. Mfg.
Co. Homer, NY. |
Chuck: W. Peck, 814,320; Pad bearing: W. Peck 814,318. Stanley owned these patents and 814,319 as well. |
StanleyX-3OD.htm | Stanley, New Brittain, Conn. USA | Jaws: C.E. Mitchell, 1,011,217 |
JFSteward084.htm | Unknown maker, Kansas | Crank & handle: J.F. Steward, 460,256 |